You don’t want to discover you’re out of tissues, decongestants or pain medication when a respiratory infection or stomach bug strikes your family. And with colds, the flu, RSV and COVID all circulating, there’s a good chance someone in your household will come down with something at some point.
Jason Leubner, MD, a family medicine specialist with Banner - University Medicine, shared how to prepare so you’re stocked up when sickness strikes, and you can focus on getting yourself or your family better.
“Being prepared makes it much easier to manage your symptoms as soon as they start to develop, especially for busy people who may delay going to the store to get supplies when their symptoms first start,” Dr. Leubner said. “Additionally, people may not feel well enough to leave the house to get these items if they are feeling sick and they may have to wait for others to help,” he said.
Get ahead of flu and cold season by trying these seven steps:
1. Get vaccinated
When you and your family members are vaccinated, you’re less likely to get sick. And if you do catch a bug, odds are your infection will be milder. The flu, COVID, pneumococcal and Tdap (tetanus, diptheria, pertussis [whooping cough]) vaccines can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and some of their more serious complications.
A new RSV vaccine is available for older patients and infants. “RSV is one of the more common causes of cold-like symptoms, but occasionally can cause some patients to become very sick and need hospitalization,” Dr. Leubner said. “I generally recommend all vaccines endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as they help to prevent infections, illness and time away from work.”
Your doctor can recommend vaccines for you based on your age, profession, living environment and medical conditions. “Most people can get most vaccines,” he said.
2. Stock your medicine cabinet with these items
Include these medications and supplies in your medicine cabinet:
- Acetaminophen and ibuprofen: These medications can help treat pain and fever.
- Antihistamines and decongestants: These medications can help with nasal congestion and drainage. “Keep in mind that antihistamines and decongestants can have side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, insomnia and dizziness,” Dr. Leubner said. “Before you start using them regularly, review with your doctor since they can interfere with medications for chronic conditions.”
- Medications that can treat stomach issues: Products like Pepto Bismol and Imodium can relieve nausea and diarrhea.
- Symptom relievers: Throat lozenges, suppressants and expectorant cough syrups can help.
- Any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications you take regularly: You don’t want to head to the store if you’re sick and running low.
- A thermometer: You’ll want an accurate temperature reading to check for fever.
- A pulse oximeter: These inexpensive devices measure your blood oxygen level. You can contact your health care provider if your readings are low or dropping.
- COVID tests: Home tests can show you if COVID is causing your symptoms.
- A humidifier: When you’re sick, it can be easier to breathe and rest if you add moisture to the air.
Be sure to check the expiration dates on any medications you already have on hand. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend using medications or supplements after their expiration date. Those medications might not be safe, or as effective as they should be.
3. Stock your pantry with these staples
Dealing with sickness will be easier if you have these items on hand:
- Water, sports drinks, tea, soup and broths: Liquids can keep you hydrated. “This is especially important for illnesses with diarrhea,” Dr. Leubner said. It’s not a good idea to hydrate with soda, juice or other drinks with a lot of sugar.
- Hand soap and hand sanitizer: Good hygiene can help keep germs from spreading through your family.
- Tissues: You’ll want to have plenty of tissues on hand for runny noses and sneezes.
- Surface cleaner/disinfectant: Cleaning and disinfecting can help keep infections from spreading.
- Masks: Wearing masks may help keep illnesses from spreading within your family and beyond.
- Laundry detergent: You’ll want to keep cozy blankets, sweatshirts and socks clean when people in your home are sick.
- Family favorites: If you know your daughter wants tomato soup when she’s not feeling well or your son craves peanut butter, make sure you have these long-shelf-life foods in your cupboards.
4. Do some planning before someone gets sick
Here are a few things you can put in place ahead of time:
- Make sure everyone in your family knows what symptoms to watch for and that children know to tell an adult if they aren’t feeling well.
- Remind everyone in your household to wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitizers to help keep germs from spreading. Teach children to sneeze or cough into a tissue or their elbow, throw away used tissues and wash their hands afterward.
- Clean and disinfect common areas like the kitchen and bathroom regularly, and high-touch areas such as doorknobs, light switches, faucets, personal electronics and remote controls every day.
- See if your health care provider or insurance company offers telehealth appointments so you can connect with care without leaving home. If not, ask your insurance provider if there is a telehealth platform you can use.
- Set up a schedule ahead of time for checking on the sick person and taking care of household tasks. You may want to use notes, a family message board, phone calls or texts to communicate if that helps you keep your distance from each other.
- Share information about each other’s medical history and medications with close, trusted family members in case an illness turns serious. If you live alone, post this information in your home or carry it on your phone or a medical ID card in your wallet.
5. Think about where a sick family member could isolate
Creating a designated sick room can minimize contact and help keep other family members from getting sick. “Limiting direct contact can be helpful but that’s not always possible, especially with children,” Dr. Leubner said.
Choose one room where someone could stay if they got sick, ideally with its own bathroom. If a separate bathroom isn’t possible, be prepared to disinfect the bathroom after each use while the person is sick. If you can, stock the room with tissues, a wastebasket lined with a plastic bag, hand sanitizer, a thermometer, medication, fluids, a HEPA filter, a humidifier and comfort items like blankets and pillows.
6. Prepare for being home from work or school
When illness affects your household, managing work and childcare can be challenging. These tips can help:
- Check with your employer about sick leave policies. Make sure you know how to request time off.
- Plan for emergency childcare needs. If it’s an option, talk to your employer about working from home if you need to care for a sick family member.
- Know how to contact your child’s school and teachers to find out about homework, missed assignments and how to make up work.
7. Boost your immunity
A strong immune system can help keep you from getting sick and help you recover quickly if you do. You can strengthen your immune system with regular physical activity, a balanced diet, good hydration, stress management and at least seven hours of sleep every night.
The bottom line
When you or a family member are sick, it can be disruptive. Planning ahead can help. Make sure your home is stocked with medicine and supplies and know how to contact help so you don’t add the stress of shopping and hunting down phone numbers when someone is sick.
To learn more about how to prepare for sickness, reach out to your primary care provider or an expert at Banner Health.
